The Programme, Support to Local Economy in Mwanza (SLEM) is a partnership between the government of the United Republic of Tanzania, UNDP and UNCDF. It is a successor to a previously implemented comprehensive local governance programs worth US$ 19 million, in support of the government's decentralization efforts in Mwanza region. The two programs were: Support to Decentralization Programme (SDP) and; Support to Good Local Governance Programme (SGLG). Through these two programs which wereactive in all the six districts of Mwanza region (Ukerewe, Geita, Sengerema, Kwimba, Magu, and Misungwi), UNCDF, UNDP and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) assisted the Government in her efforts to establish the necessary technical and financial means to effectively improve social service delivery and the development of an active local private sector.

The Support to Local Economy in Mwanza represent a second generation Local Development Programme Model developed in 2006, in response to the Tanzania National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction and is an intergral part of the Local Government Reform. The overall goal of the SLEM programme is to reduce poverty in the Mwanza Region. More particularly, the programme aims at strengthening and promoting an enabling environment for sustainable, equitable poverty reduction and pro-poor economic development and growth. The programme is currently being implemented in two districts of Sengerema and Misungwi in Mwanza region

The programme pioneers an innovative approach to pro-poor local economic development that stresses partnerships between local governments, the private sector and community groups to come together to mobilize and manage local, and accessible, resources to unleash local entrepreneurship and to stimulate local economy. The programme contributes to attain the priority objectives of the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction and to achieve the Millennium Development goals.

The main features of the LDP approach are:

• A sub-national focus and operating within decentralized environment: The Programme stresses the role of local authorities in the promotion of a favorable business environment, through legal and regulatory frameworks conducive to business for pro-poor economic growth.

• An intergral part of the Local Government Reform. The programme stresses the leadership of local government authorities and the joint involvement of the public and private sector partnership. It focuses on the range of pro-poor measures needed to unleash local entrepreneurship and to support local economy (income raising, employment creation, access to market information, and broad-base enterprise growth), poverty reduction and improvement of food security.

• Alignment with upstream National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction and National Policy Frameworks.The government has a Rural Development Policy, which articulates well the role of local government in promoting growth, reducing poverty and meeting the millennium Development goals. Indeed the SLEM is basically designed as an instrument to implement both the Rural Development Policy, the Agricultural Policy, The SMEs Policy as well contribute to the achievements of the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction objectives.

• Empowerment and capacity building of sub-national governments and private sector. Decentralization policies in Tanzania provide local government authorities and the Regional Secretariat (RS) with significant responsibilities. However, the present system has still a number of weaknesses and little progress has been made on the fundamentals required to implement decentralization by devolution.The SLEM programme focus on the role of local governments in economic development and the oversight functions of the Regional Secretariat (RS). It particularly strengthen the institutional links between the Regional Secretariat and the District Councils, support appropriate forums or councils of economic stakeholders both at the Regional and District level, supports MSMEs, MFIs, Business Development Services (BDS) Providers etc.

• The programme has a Capacity Building component thatmake possible the provision of appropriate technical services to all the stakeholders (including local authorities) through a variety of initiatives aimed at strengthening local technical and managerial skills.

• The programme has an Investment CapitalFund component thatmakes possible for Micro and Small entrepreneurs in agriculture and livestock, non-farm and non-agricultural initiatives in rural areas to access these funds to empower and strengthen their competitiveness.

• Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.

• Prime Minister Office Regional Administration and Local Governments

• Mwanza Regional Secretariat

• Sengerema and Misungwi local governments.

• Two districts

• Sengerema with a population of about 500,000

• Misungwi with population of 260,000

• Mid Evaluation 2009

• Special features or innovations:

• Inclusive economic governance;Through Public Private Partnerships, a special future is the creation and establishment of 2 District Fora (2) for Local Economic Stakeholders (DFLES) and their working committees in Misungwi and Sengerema districts.

• Strengthening Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises to increase their competitiveness. A special future is the establishment of Two Business Development Services Shops/centres contracting of two business development service providers in Sengerema and Misungwi where capacity building for MSMEs in organizational management, preparations of business plans, book keeping and other specialized trainings are provided. It is a one stop shop for a variety of services ranging from extension, input supplies, marketing, technology etc.

• Empowering Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises through increasing their capital outlay. A special future is a collaboration between Local government and Micro finance Institution for operation and management of a micro capital scheme. This is done through signing a memorandum of Understanding to operate a joint account.

• Equipping key stakeholders with localised economic and social data (LGAs) for them to understand their local economies and make informed decisions. An institutional mapping to identify main stakeholders and a social economic profile to establish social and economic conditions for the two districts carried out.

• Positioning and enabling local government to support private endeavours. Recognizing the importance of private sector in promoting growth and alleviating poverty, Misungwi and Sengerema local government in collaboration with the project is cosntracting District forum for Local Economy offices in the two respective districts.

• Value chain analysis conducted for two crops (cheakpea and tomatoes) for Misungwi and two crops (Paddy and Fish) for Sengerema.

• To sensitize and create awareness to central government sectors beyond Prime Ministers Office Regional Regional Administration and Local Governments.

• Harmonization of Local economic Development approaches being practiced by different partners and government

• Limited resources for up-scaling the programme beyond Mwanza region.

• National workshop to sensitize other sectors on the potential of LED

• Resource Mobilization